Google Search Click Tracking Changed

May 26, 2009 at 9:21am ET by Barry Schwartz

I reported Google appears to be testing a new click tracking method in the search results. In the past, Google selectively tracked clicks by appending tracking URLs to the search results. Now, it appears that those tracking URLs are done through JavaScript and are virtually invisible to the end user.

Here is a sample of the code in the search results to track the clicks:

<a href=”http://www.google.com/” class=l onmousedown=”return rwt(this,”,”,’res’,'4′, ‘AFQjCNG5-9Jej-ukVeakTgwonqt2narbYg’,'&sig2=4Lwo00y104At7P9SCT7uXA’)”>

I do not know why this was changed or if there is any significance to it. There is discussion around the change at WebmasterWorld Forums now.

Buzz It

Barry Schwartz is Search Engine Land's News Editor and owns RustyBrick, a NY based web consulting firm. He also runs Search Engine Roundtable, a popular search blog on very advanced SEM topics. Barry's personal blog is named Cartoon Barry and he can be followed on Twitter here.

See more articles by Barry Schwartz >

Share, Bookmark & Discuss This Article
More:

Keep Updated: News Via Email | News Via RSS Feed | News Via Twitter

See more stories like this in the Members Library! Check out the Google: Web Search sections of the Members Library where this story is filed. Members also get access to exclusive video content, a members-only weekly & monthly newsletter, plus more. Check out all the benefits!

ONE COMMENT ON Google Search Click Tracking Changed

Ian Macfarlane, May 27th, 2009 at 8:00 am ET:

This isn’t new, it’s been happening for a long, long time.

Actually, now I look, there’s link in the WMW forum thread to a 2003 thread discussing this.

TOP STORIES

See All »

SEARCH NEWS BRIEFS

See All »

FEATURES & ANALYSIS

See All »

RECENT COMMENTS

Shari Thurow said " Hi all- Information architects, at least the most knowledgeable ones, understand the main finding be"
nuttakorn said " I think 2010 is about Real-time and personalize search algorithms that Google will pay attention to "
nuttakorn said " I just heard many sources that Google.cn will shut down tomorrow. You can see this source of news fr"

See All »

See How To Articles And More In Our Members Library »

FREE DAILY SEARCH NEWS RECAP!

SearchCap is a once-per-day newsletter update:

STAY CURRENT THROUGHOUT THE DAY

Our feed & social options update you as news happens.

SEARCH ENGINE LAND SPONSORS

Advertise With Us »

UPCOMING SEARCH ENGINE LAND CONFERENCES

Search Engine Land produces SMX, the Search Marketing Expo conference series. SMX events deliver the most comprehensive educational and networking experiences - whether you're just starting in search marketing or you're a seasoned expert.

SMX Web Site » | SMX Difference » | SMX News »

Join us at an upcoming SMX event:

UPCOMING SEARCH ENGINE LAND WEBCASTS

Learn more about search marketing with our free online webcasts and webinars from our sister site, Search Marketing Now. Upcoming online events include: